Zhang Yu watched the two men leave, then took the invitation from Li Qinghe. The signature read Qiu Shang, followed by the title of Academy Instructor. He must have been the Qiu Xueling those two had mentioned.
The invitation said much the same as they had: he was to go to Zhenli Hall the next day. It gave no specific reason, though, and its wording was hardly courteous, carrying a distinctly condescending air.
He pondered the matter. Zhenli Hall was where scholarly debates and lectures were held; his earlier self-recommendation had taken place there.
In a few days, according to his agreement with the Academy, he would begin teaching some students the language and customs of the Steel Claw Tribe. So this matter was very likely related to that.
He turned the invitation over. It bore the Academy's seal, which meant the summons had been issued through the Academy. As an assistant instructor there, he had no choice but to go.
Did the Academy want to confirm things once more before I officially teach that native tongue, or are some people in the Academy hoping to gain something from this?
He thought it over and felt both possibilities were likely. The interests involved in this matter were considerable.
A powerful native tribe with tens of thousands of warriors had appeared in the Southern Region, where the Protectorate Office was depleted. This could well alter the entire strategic landscape, or even endanger the Protectorate Office's stability. The political maneuvering and disputes it might spark in the Metropolitan Hall were easy to imagine. At a time like this, it was inevitable that some people would be itching to make a move.
But no matter what they wanted, he was the one who knew how to communicate with the tribe. They could not get around him.
He gathered his thoughts and glanced at Li Qinghe. The Beardfolk youth was sensible; while Zhang Yu had been thinking, he had stood quietly at his side without saying a word. Zhang Yu asked, "Qinghe, you handled the invitation just now with such proper manners. Who taught you?"
Li Qinghe replied, "Sir, the elders of my tribe did. They taught us Celestial Xia writing, as well as Celestial Xia etiquette and rules."
Zhang Yu shook his head. "Your tribal elders taught you well, but your etiquette is only 'outward form,' not 'inner practice.' No matter how well you perform it, it's useless. When we have some free time, I'll teach you a set of Guidance Art. You must practice it properly."
Li Qinghe didn't understand the distinction, but he was quick-witted. Hearing that Zhang Yu wanted to teach him something, he was thrilled. "Yes, sir. Qinghe will make sure to practice diligently."
As the two were speaking, a voice came from outside the door. "Assistant Instructor Zhang, are you there? Liu Guang has come to pay you a visit."
At the sound of his voice, Zhang Yu rose and went to open the door himself. He clasped his hands in greeting. "Instructor Liu, what brings you here?"
Liu Guang returned the greeting, his expression grave. "Assistant Instructor Zhang, did someone from the Academy come by just now?"
Zhang Yu's thoughts stirred. He stepped aside and said, "Instructor Liu, please come in and talk."
Liu Guang clasped his hands and stepped inside.
Zhang Yu ushered him into the study. After the two took their seats, Qinghe brought in tea.
Liu Guang looked at him and exclaimed in surprise, "A Beardfolk?" He sounded a little envious. "Assistant Instructor Zhang, you've certainly found yourself a fine attendant."
A Beardfolk attendant wasn't someone you could simply choose to have. Before a Beardfolk could recognize a household as his master's, the elders of his tribe first had to approve.
That was because the Beardfolk feared their people might follow the wrong master, ruining their lives. So when selecting someone to follow, they used the Celestial Xia method of divination. Only if the signs showed no ill fortune would they agree.
Liu Guang had wanted to find a Beardfolk attendant before, but had failed. And once an attempt failed, there would be no second chance, because all the Beardfolk tribes accepted the result.
Zhang Yu took out the invitation and said, "Someone from the Academy did come by just now. They brought this."
Liu Guang took it and looked it over, frowning. "As I thought..."
Zhang Yu asked, "Instructor Liu, do you know why the Academy has summoned me this time?"
Liu Guang scoffed. "Isn't it because some people have spotted a chance to profit and want to stick their hands into this? Assistant Instructor Zhang, you're the key to the whole matter, so they all want to pry open a gap through you."
Zhang Yu nodded. It was just as he'd thought. He asked, "Then do you know anything about the person whose name is on this invitation, Qiu Xueling?"
"Qiu Xueling was once the best translator of Peace Mountain native languages at Taiyang Academy. In recent years, they say he's been visiting some of the assimilated natives in the Protectorate Office, copying and organizing texts in hopes of compiling a lexicon that could serve as a reference for all the tribes. But there's been no word of it in the past few years, so I thought he'd retired to enjoy his old age."
Liu Guang looked up. "I've met Qiu Xueling a few times. He's a learned man, especially when it comes to the cultures and languages of the various tribes. He accomplished a great deal in the past, translating a large number of ancient bark books from native tribes around Peace Mountain. He truly enriched the Academy's library. Oh, and he was on good terms with Lord Zhan, the previous Academy Director. The current student, Zhan Zhitong, is Lord Zhan's son."
Zhang Yu thought about it. From what Liu Guang had said, Qiu Xueling seemed to have been a marginal figure, likely put forward by some faction. Still, one thing deserved attention: he seemed to know native languages very well.
Liu Guang set down the invitation, his expression solemn. "From what I just heard, they may be planning to question you this time."
Zhang Yu's eyes flickered as his thoughts raced. Question me...
At Taiyang Academy, a Scholastic Inquiry meant testing an instructor's knowledge. If someone was found lacking and no longer fit for the position, the Academy could dismiss him.
It was an old rule. Since the Protectorate Office had established three more Academies, Taiyang Academy had rarely used it.
Liu Guang looked up at him, his expression serious. "Assistant Instructor Zhang, in your judgment, could anyone besides you speak the language of that Steel Claw Tribe?"
He was deeply concerned about the matter. Zhang Yu had entered the Academy through a self-recommendation before him, Zhu Anshi, and Xin Yao. Not even a month had passed. If Zhang Yu ran into trouble during this Scholastic Inquiry, the three of them would be implicated as well.
Zhang Yu asked, "Has Qiu Xueling ever been to the depths of the forests east of Peace Mountain?"
Liu Guang shook his head. "Qiu Xueling is over ninety, no spring chicken. He's spent his whole life buried in the Academy's books and scrolls. I've never heard of him traveling far."
Zhang Yu was slightly surprised. "He's over ninety? Then he lived through that battle all those years ago?"
In that battle sixty years ago, nearly all the adult male Celestial Xia in the Protectorate Office had gone to war, and few had returned alive. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many officials in the Protectorate Office now with An and Celestial Xia blood.
At the time, Qiu Xueling would have been in his thirties, the prime of his life.
Liu Guang's face took on a mocking look. "Qiu Xueling never went to the battlefield. I heard that on the eve of the great battle, he happened to break a leg, then remained unconscious for many days, so he never made it there."
Then he added pointedly, "But don't let that color your judgment of his character. His scholarship is genuine. I once attended one of his lectures, and he really knew his stuff."
By then, Zhang Yu was certain Qiu Xueling couldn't speak the Steel Claw Tribe's language. The tribe had only migrated from the inland regions two or three years ago. Even if Qiu Xueling had traveled into the heart of the inland regions before, he could never have encountered them.
He said, "Instructor Liu, there's no need to worry. I just think Qiu Xueling may have something else in mind, rather than testing my knowledge."
Liu Guang was taken aback, then suddenly understood. He clenched a fist and tapped his forehead. He'd let his concern muddle his thinking.
If Qiu Xueling knew the Steel Claw Tribe's language, couldn't he simply take Zhang Yu's place? Why make such a public spectacle of the whole thing? That would be pointless.
So there had to be some other motive.
He asked, "Then how do you plan to handle things tomorrow, Assistant Instructor Zhang?"
Zhang Yu replied calmly, "I'll deal with whatever comes, as it comes."
He was no longer merely an assistant instructor; he had also joined the Profound Residence. As long as he didn't openly break the rules, the Academy couldn't do anything to him. Still, if possible, he wanted to keep his position as an assistant instructor. It was an important part of his plan to gather Source Energy items.
Zhang Yu's composure rubbed off on Liu Guang, and he felt much calmer.
Thinking about it, as long as Zhang Yu still knew the tribe's language, that was his greatest leverage. The Academy wouldn't dare do anything to him.
He said, "Better safe than sorry. Assistant Instructor Zhang, I'll head back now. Tomorrow, I'll go with you to Zhenli Hall."
Zhang Yu agreed on a time with him, then saw him out. After returning to the study, he picked up the invitation and looked it over again. Taking Liu Guang's words into account, he had come up with a possibility.
Whether he was right or not would become clear tomorrow.
And so the wait dragged on for hours~ o(*￣▽￣*)ブ
Before you continue